My top 10 articles about Personal Knowledge Management (PKM)

In this article, I want to showcase my most popular articles about Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). Whether you're just getting started or not, these can help you improve your own system.

The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Obsidian

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Obsidian

Discover Obsidian with this ultimate guide for beginners. Don’t waste time, and learn what really matters.

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article is a comprehensive tutorial for newcomers to Obsidian, a popular note-taking and personal knowledge management tool. This guide covers the fundamental concepts of Obsidian, including how to set up and organize notes, utilize Markdown for note creation, and the significance of features like vaults and plugins. It is designed to help beginners quickly grasp the essential aspects of using Obsidian efficiently.

Note that I have also created the Obsidian Starter Course, which is a deep dive course:

Obsidian Starter Course

Who is this for?You are just getting started with note-taking or you’ve recently switched to ObsidianYou want to discover Obsidian and its key featuresYou wonder how to take smart notesYou want to know how to properly organize your notes and avoid creating an overwhelming messYou want a solid system that scalesYou wonder what Zettelkasten, the PARA method, and the Johnny decimal system areYou have bought the Obsidian Starter Kit and want a full video course to help you get startedGetting started with Obsidian is not the hardest thing in the world, but it takes a lot of trial and error to figure out how to structure and organize your knowledge base. You have a busy life, and you don’t want to spend weeks or even months figuring out the “right” approach.What is this?The Obsidian Starter Course is a video course containing 2h20 of content. It’s a hands-on guide into the world of Obsidian, Personal Knowledge Management (PKM), and the Obsidian Starter Kit.Many of the explanations use the Obsidian Starter Kit’s vault/structure/plugins, but the explanations about Personal Knowledge Management (PKM), Markdown, YAML and recommendations can be applied to many other tools. Moreover, if you’re using Obsidian but don’t yet have a copy of the Obsidian Starter Kit, then this course is still incredibly useful. It will show you how you can organize your knowledge base, how to take smart notes, and much more!What’s in the video course?The Obsidian Starter Course covers the following topics:Obsidian: installation, user interface, key features, plugins, automation, tips and tricks, etcThe Markdown syntaxYAML metadataPersonal Knowledge Management techniques and principles: the Johnny Decimal system, the PARA method (e.g., the Zettelkasten method, the LIFT principle, Atomic notes, Maps of Content, knowledge capture & extraction, etc)JournalingPeriodic reviewsTemplatesAutomationTask managementBest practices and recommendationsHands-on explanationsand more!Refunds policyIf you’re not 100% satisfied, then just let me know, and I’ll issue a full refund. I’ll only ask you a single question: How can I improve the product?If you think about asking for a refund, then consider reaching out to me with your issues, questions, and remarks. I’m always available and happy to help. My goal is to help you succeed.

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The Must-Have Obsidian plugins

The Must-Have Obsidian plugins

An overview of the best Obsidian plugins. Make sure to read this and try these out!

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article offers an extensive overview of various essential plugins for the Obsidian note-taking application. It introduces readers to a range of plugins, detailing their functions and benefits. These plugins enhance the functionality of Obsidian, addressing different aspects such as task management, note organization, data visualization, and more. The post is designed to help users navigate the extensive library of available Obsidian plugins and select those that best suit their personal knowledge management needs.

Ten Personal Knowledge Management Practices to Explore and Master

Ten Personal Knowledge Management Practices to Explore and Master

Ten practices that you should explore to improve your Personal Knowledge Management skills

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article outlines essential practices for effective Personal Knowledge Management.

Note-taking vs Note-making

Note-taking vs Note-making

Taking notes and making notes are different but complementary. Learn about the difference and why you should care

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article distinguishes between these two different practices. On one end capturing external information (often condensed), and on the other, expressing thoughts and ideas, fostering self-expression and creativity.

The Value of Atomic Notes

The value of atomic notes

Atomic notes are a key element of PKM success. Here’s why

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article discusses the benefits of creating concise, and focused notes in Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). Atomic notes, limited to a single idea or concept, enhance linkability, tagging accuracy, and ease of search within a knowledge base. This approach aids in better understanding, recall, and exploration of ideas, making atomic notes valuable for efficient learning and knowledge accumulation.

The PARA Method

The PARA method

The PARA method is a great way to organize your digital information. Here’s a quick introduction

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article covers the PARA method, a system for organizing digital information. It stands for Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives, each storing specific types of information. This method helps to categorize and prioritize tasks and information, streamlining the organization process for enhanced productivity and clarity.

The Johnny Decimal System

The Johnny Decimal system

Discover the Johnny Decimal system and organize anything with grace

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article explores a popular method for organizing digital information. It describes how to organize any kind of information efficiently. The Johnny Decimal is a versatile tool adaptable across various platforms and tools, enhancing personal knowledge management practices.

Maps of Content (MoCs)

Maps of Content (MoCs) for better Knowledge Graphs

Understand what Maps of Content (MoCs) are in the PKM ecosystem. Discover why they are useful and how they can help strengthen your knowledge graph

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article dives into the concept of Map of Content (MoC). It explains how MoCs act as meta notes, linking to other notes and serving as a dynamic index on various topics. The article highlights the benefits of MoCs in organizing and connecting ideas, enhancing the navigability and scalability of a knowledge base. It also touches on the idea of creating a "MoC of MoCs" to further structure and relate various topics.

How I use Daily Notes

How I use daily notes

An overview of how I use daily notes and how I extract knowledge from those.

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article explores my own journaling approach. It outlines my process for capturing ideas, and later organizing those during weekly reviews.

My Daily Note template in Obsidian

My daily note template in Obsidian

In this article, I want to share the template I use in Obsidian for my daily notes. Introduction As journaling is part of my habits, I use my daily note template every single day. That’s why I like to keep it simple and usable. My daily note template Let me

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

This article provides an insightful look into how he uses Obsidian for daily journaling and note-taking. In it, I share the Daily Note template I currently use. I also explain its structure and components. The article emphasizes how this structured approach aids in productivity, learning, and personal development.

Find Your Perfect Note-Taking app with this Free Database of ~300 Tools for Thought

Discover the Ultimate Database of ~300 note-taking and Personal Knowledge Management Tools.

Sébastien DuboisSebastien Dubois

About Sébastien

I am Sébastien Dubois. You can follow me on X 🐦 and on BlueSky 🦋.

I am an author, founder, and coach. I write books and articles about Knowledge Work, Personal Knowledge Management, Note-taking, Lifelong Learning, Personal Organization, and Zen Productivity. I also craft lovely digital products . You can learn more about my projects here.

If you want to follow my work, then become a member.

Ready to get to the next level?

To embark on your Knowledge Management journey, consider investing in resources that will equip you with the tools and strategies you need. Check out the Obsidian Starter Kit and the accompanying video course. It will give you a rock-solid starting point for your note-taking and Knowledge Management efforts.

If you want to take a more holistic approach, then the Knowledge Worker Kit is for you. It covers PKM, but expands into productivity, personal organization, project/task management, and more:

Knowledge Worker Kit and community

Unlock the next level of your career. Stop feeling disorganized, unproductive, or overwhelmed.

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If you are in a hurry, then do not hesitate to book a coaching session with me:

Personal Knowledge Management Coaching

Receive personalized coaching to quickly reach your goals

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